Driving device of icemaker for refrigerator

ABSTRACT

A driving device of an icemaker for refrigerator may include: a driving device case coupled to an ice-making tray having an ejector rotating shaft coupled thereto; and a driving module housed in the driving device case so as to rotate the ejector rotating shaft.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 14/379,860, filed on Aug. 20, 2014. Furthermore, this application claims the benefit of priority of Korean application 10-2012-0024417, filed Mar. 9, 2012, the subject matter of which is incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an icemaker for refrigerator, and more particularly, to a driving device of an icemaker for refrigerator.

BACKGROUND

In general, a refrigerator refers to a home appliance which includes a storage room for storing food and a cold air supply device for supplying cold air to the storage room, in order to keep food fresh. Recently, an icemaker for refrigerator has been installed in a refrigerator, for a user's convenience. The icemaker directly freezes an ice-making tray to make ice, or supplies external cold air to the ice-making tray to make ice.

Korean Patent Laid-open Publication No. 10-1998-026431 discloses an example of a conventional icemaker for refrigerator.

Hereafter, the conventional icemaker for refrigerator and a driving device of the conventional icemaker for refrigerator will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of the conventional icemaker for refrigerator. FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the inside of the driving device of the conventional icemaker for refrigerator.

Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional icemaker 1 for refrigerator includes an ice-making tray 10 in which water is frozen, an ejector (not illustrated) rotatably coupled to the ice-making tray 10, an ice container 30 installed under the ice-making tray 10, and a driving device 40 of the icemaker for refrigerator. The driving device 40 is coupled to the ice-making tray 10 so as to rotate a rotating shaft (not illustrated) of the ejector and to drive an ice detection lever 50 for detecting the amount of ice stored in the ice container 30.

Referring to FIG. 2, the driving device 40 of the conventional icemaker for refrigerator includes a driving motor 41, a reduction gear unit 42, a worm gear 43, a cam gear 44, a horizontal detection switch 45, an ice detection switch 46, an ice detection member 47, an ice separation member 48, and a case 50. The driving motor 41 generates a rotational force. The reduction gear unit 42 includes a plurality of gears 42 a, 42 b, and 42 c for reducing the rotation speed of the driving motor 41. The worm gear 43 transmits the rotational force of the driving motor 41 to the reduction gear unit 42. The cam gear 44 is coupled to the reduction gear unit 42 and the rotating shaft (not illustrated) of the ejector (not illustrated) so as to transmit the rotational force to the rotating shaft of the ejector. The horizontal detection switch 45 and the ice detection switch 46 control an ice separation operation and an ice detection operation, respectively. The ice detection member 47 is vertically moved according to the amount of ice stored in the ice container 30, and operates the ice detection switch 46. The ice separation member 48 operates the horizontal detection switch 45. The case 50 houses parts of the driving device 40 of the conventional icemaker for refrigerator.

The driving device 40 of the conventional icemaker for refrigerator may be assembled as follows: the case 10 is coupled to the ice-making tray 10, and a plurality of parts such as the driving motor 41 and the cam gear 44 are installed in the case 50.

Since the plurality of parts must be installed in the case 50 during the assembling process of the driving device 40 of the conventional icemaker for refrigerator, the assembling process becomes inevitably complex. Furthermore, some parts are likely to be omitted during the assembling process.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT Patent Document

-   (Patent Document 1) Korean Patent Laid-open Publication No.     10-1998-026431 (Automatic icemaker of refrigerator, published on     Jul. 15, 1998).

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a driving device of an icemaker for refrigerator, which is capable of simplifying an assembling process and preventing omission of parts during the assembling process.

Technical Solution

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a driving device of an icemaker for refrigerator may include: a driving device case coupled to an ice-making tray having an ejector rotating shaft coupled thereto; and a driving module housed in the driving device case so as to rotate the ejector rotating shaft.

The driving module may include a driving module case housed in the driving device case and a driving unit mounted in the driving module case so as to rotate the ejector rotating shaft.

The driving device case may have a guide protrusion formed therein, and the driving module case may have a guide groove formed therein, which is guided by the guide protrusion when the driving module case is inserted into the driving device case.

The driving unit may include a driving motor for generating a rotational force and a gear part for transmitting the rotational force generated through the driving motor to the ejector rotating shaft.

The driving motor may include a DC step motor. The driving motor may be mounted on the outer surface of the driving module case.

The gear part may include a driving pinion coupled to a rotating shaft of the driving motor, a driven gear coupled to the ejector rotating shaft, and a plurality of two-stage gears for transmitting the rotational force of the driving pinion to the driven gear while reducing rotation speed and increasing torque.

The driven gear may be mounted on the outer surface of the driving module case.

Each of the two-stage gears may include a top gear and a bottom gear having a smaller number of gear teeth than the top gear.

The driving device may further include a rotation detection part for detecting the rotation position of the driven gear.

The rotation detection part may include a magnet coupled to the driven gear and rotated through the rotation of the driven gear, and a hall IC for outputting a signal according to the magnitude of a magnetic force of the magnet.

The magnet and the hall IC maybe arranged in such a manner that a pole of the magnet and a receiving surface of the hall IC face each other when the magnet and the hall IC are positioned adjacent to each other, and the hall IC may output the signal when the receiving surface of the hall IC and the pole of the magnet face each other.

Advantageous Effects

In accordance with the embodiment of the present invention, as the parts forming the driving device of the icemaker for refrigerator are implemented as a module, the assembling device of the icemaker for refrigerator may be simplified, and omission of parts may be prevented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of the conventional icemaker for refrigerator.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the inside of the driving device of the conventional icemaker for refrigerator.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a driving device of an icemaker for refrigerator and an ice-making tray of the icemaker for refrigerator in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a driving device case body in which a driving module in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention is mounted.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are exploded perspective view of the driving module in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the driving module in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an assembling process of the driving module in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the assembling process of the driving device of the icemaker for refrigerator in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention may include various modifications and various embodiments, and thus specific embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in the detailed descriptions. However, the present invention is not limited to specific embodiments, and may include all of variations, equivalents, and substitutes within the scope of the present invention.

Hereafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, regardless of reference numerals, like reference numerals will denote the same or corresponding components, and the duplicated descriptions thereof will be omitted. Furthermore, the terms such as up, down, left, right, front, and back, which indicate directions or positions, are used on the basis of the accompanying drawings.

Hereafter, a driving device of an icemaker for refrigerator in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a driving device of an icemaker for refrigerator and an ice-making tray of the icemaker for refrigerator in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 illustrates a driving device case body in which a driving module in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention is mounted.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the driving device 100 of the icemaker for refrigerator in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention may include a driving device case 200 and a driving module 300. The driving device case 200 is coupled to an ice-making tray 110 which is rotatably coupled to an ejector rotating shaft 112 of an ejector 111 for ejecting ice made by the ice-making tray 110 to the outside of the ice-making tray 110. The driving module 300 is detachably housed and coupled to the inside of the driving device case 200, and rotates the ejector rotating shaft 112.

The driving device case 200 may include a driving device case body 210 and a driving device case cover 220. The driving device case body 210 has a driving module housing part 211 formed therein to house the driving module 300, and the driving device case cover 220 covers the driving device case body 210 so as to seal the inside of the driving device case body 210.

The driving device case body 210 may be coupled to the ice-making tray 110. The driving device case body 210 may have an ejector rotating shaft through-hole 212 formed therein, through which the ejector rotating shaft 112 rotatably coupled to the ice-making tray 110 passes. Thus, when the ice-making tray 110 coupled to the ejector rotating shaft 112 is coupled to the driving device case body 210, a part of the ejector rotating shaft 112 is introduced into the driving module housing part 211 of the driving device case body 210.

The driving module housing part 211 may have a guide protrusion 215 formed on the inner wall thereof, the guide protrusion 215 guiding the movement of the driving module 300 when the driving module 300 is housed in the driving module housing part 211. Thus, when an operator inserts the driving module 300 into the driving module housing part 211, the operator may correctly and easily house the driving module 300 in the driving module housing part 211.

The driving device case cover 220 may be coupled to the driving device case body 210 through a fastening member such as a bolt B so as to seal the inside of the driving device case 200. Thus, it is possible to prevent a malfunction which is likely to occur when the parts are frozen by water permeating into the driving device case 200.

Hereafter, the driving module in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are exploded perspective view of the driving module in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the driving module in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, the driving module 300 in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention may include a driving unit 320 and a driving module case 310. The driving unit 320 provides a rotational force to the ejector rotating shaft 112 which is rotatably coupled to the ice-making tray 110, and is mounted in the driving module case 310.

The driving module case 310 may include a bottom driving module case 311 and a top driving module case 312, and a part or all of parts forming the driving unit 320 may be mounted in the driving module case 310.

Outside the driving module case 310, a guide groove 313 may be formed to be guided by the guide protrusion 215 formed in the driving device case 200. Thus, when the driving module case 310 is housed in the driving device case 200, the driving module case 310 is guided to the driving module housing part 211 of the driving device case 200. Thus, the operator may easily, correctly, and quickly house the driving module case 310 into the driving module housing part 211.

The driving module case 310 may have a fastening hole 314 formed therein to fasten the driving module case 310 to the driving device case 200. Thus, the operator may pass a bolt B through the fastening hole 314, and then couple the bolt B to a driving device case fastening groove 214, thereby coupling the driving module 300 to the driving device case 200.

The driving unit 320 may include a driving motor 360, a gear part 330, and a driving motor control part 340. The driving motor 360 generates a rotational force, the gear part 330 transmits the rotational force of the driving motor 360 to the ejector rotating shaft 112, while reducing rotation speed and increasing torque, and the driving motor control part 340 controls the driving motor 360. The driving unit 320 may further include a rotation detection part 350 for detecting the rotation position of the gear part 330.

The driving motor 360 may be implemented with a low-voltage DC step motor. Such a driving motor may reduce a risk of electric shock or fire, using a low voltage. Furthermore, when the driving motor 360 is implemented with a DC step motor, the rotation angle may be correctly adjusted. The driving motor 360 generates a rotational force and transmits the generated rotational force to the gear part 330.

The driving motor 360 may be installed inside or outside the driving module case 310. When the driving motor 360 is installed outside the driving module case 310, the rotating shaft 361 of the driving motor 360 is introduced into the driving module case 310 and coupled to the gear part 330. Thus, the rotational force of the driving motor 360 may be transmitted to the gear part 330 installed in the driving module case 310.

The gear part 330 may include a driving pinion 362, a driven gear 336, and a plurality of two-stage gears. The driving pinion 362 is coupled to the rotating shaft 361 of the driving motor 360, the driven gear 336 receives a rotational force from the driving pinion 362, and rotates the ejector rotating shaft 112, and the plurality of two-stage gears transmit the rotational force of the driving pinion 362 to the driven gear 336 while reducing rotation speed and increasing torque.

The driving pinion 362 is rotated by the rotation of the rotating shaft 361 of the driving motor 360.

The plurality of two-stage gears may include first to fourth two-stage gears 332 to 335.

The first to fourth two-stage gears 332 to 335 may include first to fourth top gears 332-1 to 335-1 and first to fourth bottom gears 332-2 to 335-2, respectively. The first to fourth bottom gears 332-2 and 335-2 have a smaller number of gear teeth than the first to fourth top gears 332-1 to 335-1.

The first two-stage gear 332 may include the first top gear 332-1 and the first bottom gear 332-2, the second two-stage gear 333 may include the second top gear 333-1 and the second bottom gear 333-2, the third two-stage gear 334 may include the third top gear 334-1 and the third bottom gear 334-2, and the fourth two-stage gear 335 may include the fourth top gear 335-1 and the fourth bottom gear 335-2.

The first to fourth two-stage gears 332 to 335 may be rotatably installed in the driving module case 310.

In the present embodiment, the number of the two-stage gear is set to four. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the number of the two-stage gear may be set to 2, 3, 5 or more.

The first top gear 332-1 of the first two-stage gear 332 is engaged with the driving pinion 362, the second top gear 333-1 of the second two-stage gear 333 is engaged with the first bottom gear 332-2 of the first two-stage gear 332, the third top gear 334-1 of the third two-stage gear 334 is engaged with the second bottom gear 333-2 of the second two-stage gear 333, the fourth top gear 335-1 of the fourth two-stage gear 335 is engaged with the third bottom gear 334-2 of the third two-stage gear 334, and the driven gear 336 is engaged with the bottom gear 335-2 of the fourth two-stage gear 335. Thus, the rotational force of the driving pinion 362 is transmitted to the driven gear 336 while the rotation speed is reduced and the torque is increased. Furthermore, a low-torque motor may be used as the driving motor 360 through the first to fourth two-stage gears 332 to 335.

The driven gear 336 may have a rotating shaft coupling groove 336-1 formed therein, to which the ejector rotating shaft 112 is inserted and fixed. Thus, when the driven gear 336 is rotated in a state where the ejector rotating shaft 112 is inserted into the rotating shaft coupling groove 336-1, the ejector rotating shaft 112 is also rotated.

The driven gear 336 may be installed inside or outside the driving module case 310. When the driven gear 336 is installed inside the driving module case 310, the driven gear 336 may have a boss protruding to the outside of the driving module case 310. The rotating shaft coupling groove 336-1 may be formed in the boss.

The driven gear 336 may be coupled to a magnet M of the rotation detection part 350. The magnet M is coupled to a position separated from the rotating shaft of the driven gear 336, and rotated together with the driven gear 336 when the driven gear 336 is rotated.

The driving motor control part 340 may be implemented on a printed circuit board (PCB), and mounted in the driving module case 310. The driving motor control part 340 controls the driving motor 360 according to a command inputted from outside.

The rotation detection part 350 may include the magnet M installed on the driven gear 336 and a hall IC H installed at one side of the driven gear 336 so as to output a signal through a magnetic force of the magnet M.

The rotation detection part 350 outputs a high signal or low signal when the magnet M and the hall IC H are positioned adjacent to each other.

The hall IC H may be installed on the PCB on which the driving motor control part 340 is implemented. Thus, since an operation for installing the hall IC H on the driving module case 310 is omitted, workability may be improved.

The magnet M may be installed in such a manner that the pole (N pole or S pole) of the magnet M faces a receiving surface of the hall IC H when the magnet M and the hall IC H are positioned adjacent to each other. That is, the magnet M and the hall IC H may be arranged in such a manner that the pole of the magnet M and the receiving surface of the hall IC face each other, when the magnet M and the hall IC H are positioned adjacent to each other. Thus, the quality of a signal detected through the hall IC H may be improved.

Hereafter, the operation and effect of the driving device of the icemaker for refrigerator in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an assembling process of the driving module in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the assembling process of the driving device of the icemaker for refrigerator in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, the driving module 300 is assembled and implemented as a module. That is, the driven gear 336 is coupled to the outside of the bottom driving module case 311, the driving unit 320 is mounted in the bottom driving module case 311, and the top driving module case 312 is coupled to the bottom driving module case 311 through a bolt B. Thus, the driving module 300 implemented as a module may be easily handled.

Referring to FIG. 9, the driving module 300 implemented as a module is assembled to the driving device case 200 coupled to the ice-making tray 110. That is, the driving module 300 is housed in the driving module housing part 211 of the driving device case body 210, the driving module 300 is coupled to the driving device case body 210 through the bolt B, and the driving device case cover 220 is coupled to the driving device case body 210 through the bolt B.

Thus, in the embodiment of the present invention, the parts forming the driving device of the icemaker for refrigerator are implemented as a module. Thus, the assembling process of the driving device of the icemaker for refrigerator may be simplified, and omission of parts may be prevented during the assembling process.

While the present invention has been described with respect to the specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A driving device of an icemaker for refrigerator, comprising: a driving device case coupled to an ice-making tray having an ejector rotating shaft coupled thereto; and a driving module housed in the driving device case so as to rotate the ejector rotating shaft.
 2. The driving device of claim 1, wherein the driving module comprises a driving module case housed in the driving device case and a driving unit mounted in the driving module case so as to rotate the ejector rotating shaft.
 3. The driving device of claim 1, wherein the driving device case has a guide protrusion formed therein, and the driving module case has a guide groove formed therein, which is guided by the guide protrusion when the driving module case is inserted into the driving device case.
 4. The driving device of claim 3, wherein the driving unit comprises a driving motor for generating a rotational force and a gear part for transmitting the rotational force generated through the driving motor to the ejector rotating shaft.
 5. The driving device of claim 4, wherein the driving motor comprises a DC step motor.
 6. The driving device of claim 4, wherein the driving motor is mounted on the outer surface of the driving module case.
 7. The driving device of claim 4, wherein the gear part comprises a driving pinion coupled to a rotating shaft of the driving motor, a driven gear coupled to the ejector rotating shaft, and a plurality of two-stage gears for transmitting the rotational force of the driving pinion to the driven gear while reducing rotation speed and increasing torque.
 8. The driving device of claim 7, wherein the driven gear is mounted on the outer surface of the driving module case.
 9. The driving device of claim 7, wherein each of the two-stage gears comprises a top gear and a bottom gear having a smaller number of gear teeth than the top gear.
 10. The driving device of claim 7, further comprising a rotation detection part for detecting the rotation position of the driven gear.
 11. The driving device of claim 10, wherein the rotation detection part comprises a magnet coupled to the driven gear and rotated through the rotation of the driven gear, and a hall IC for outputting a signal according to the magnitude of a magnetic force of the magnet.
 12. The driving device of claim 11, wherein the magnet and the hall IC are arranged in such a manner that a pole of the magnet and a receiving surface of the hall IC face each other when the magnet and the hall IC are positioned adjacent to each other, and the hall IC outputs the signal when the receiving surface of the hall IC and the pole of the magnet face each other. 